Paul Ryan Explains Why He Didn’t Recall Requesting Stimulus Funds
- Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:52am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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NORTH CANTON, OH - AUGUST 16: Republican vice presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) speaks at a campaign event at Walsh University. Credit: Getty Images
Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan released a statement saying that after looking into allegations that he requested stimulus funds from a bill he voted against, he did, in fact, ask for the money.
Ryan said that the asks were treated as routing constituent requests and that explains why he couldn’t recall them.
“They should have been handled differently, and I take responsibility for that,” Ryan said in a written statement released Thursday.
“After having these letters called to my attention I checked into them, and they were treated as constituent service requests in the same way matters involving Social Security or Veterans Affairs are handled,” he also said. This is why I didn’t recall the letters earlier.”
You can see the letters here. The company Ryan was writing on behalf of, however, did not win the Labor Department grant, federal records show.
In clearing up the controversy, Ryan was sure to take a larger shot at Obama in the full statement:
“After having these letters called to my attention I checked into them, and they were treated as constituent service requests in the same way matters involving Social Security or Veterans Affairs are handled. This is why I didn’t recall the letters earlier,” he continued. “But they should have been handled differently, and I take responsibility for that. Regardless, it’s clear that the Obama stimulus did nothing to stimulate the economy, and now the President is asking to do it all over again.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Wango
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:57amWow, what a surprise. Equally shocking that conservatives immediately default to their soft and reasonable charade . . . “Nobody’s perfect. We all make innocent mistakes. He apologized for it.”
If you weren‘t so transparently without principles you’d be dangerous. Thankfully the majority of real Americans see right through you and Romney and Ryan. Liars and cowards not willing to take responsibility for their actions. Wait till you see Romney dance when his taxes come out.
Report Post »housemom1952
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:51pmPerhaps he evolved like your dear leader did on Gay Marriage?
Report Post »By the way…how much are you being paid to spam conservative sites? I see you joined this one 8/5/2012… How do you like your new gig?
Verceofreason
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:02pmPaul. you were caught lying.
Report Post »About stuff that happened less than 3 years ago?
OMG -ya got caught.
Man-On-A-Mission
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 12:53pmFlip-Flopper just like his running mate.
These guys are a joke…..My plan is different than Ryan’s….My plan is the same as Ryan’s plan….I have my own plan…..Oh it‘ in direct line as Ryan’s plan……..Bye…Bye White House.
Report Post »Hcall
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 1:55pmspeaking of jokes, did they stop allowing Biden to speak?
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:01pmThe word is hypocrites.
Report Post »His entire family fortune was earned on Government Highway building projects and. even thought he hardly need the money, he accepted his dad’s SS benefits for college tuition.
He’s SOOOOOOOO idealistic.
And his wife earned millions as a lobbyist.
jujubeebee
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:28amI would like to see every email Obama made while senator! They have gone through all of Sarah Palin’s mail and found nothing. They will go through all of Ryan’s too. Meanwhile Obama has everything sealed. I would bet we would find alot of emails to his crooked Chicago people in there! We would have a ball picking through his emails, now would we?
Report Post »MaryBethElizabeth does not deserve any response from anybody. Let her babble on her own and be the idiot she is. It is not worth the time to argue with idiots.
SnowKalBebes
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 12:26pmWay to frame the argument in your favor Paul. Now it’s about whether or not he remembered writing a letter instead of a request for stimulus funding(which I’m sure he remembers requesting).
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:20amIf you look at Ryans voting record, he has a Keynesian Stimulus voting record and when it comes to spend hes just less reckless than the other-side at it. hes not a tea party person.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:00amGeez Ryan and Romney are certainly a matched pair. “Can’t remember…“ ”Changed my position on that…“ ”This will be Romney’s budget not mine…” And he repeats the lies regarding Medicare and Medicaid. The Medicare “cuts” referred to by Romney and Ryan were agreed to reductions in Medicare payments by providers because more of the uninsured would have insurance and cover the costs of their care rather than such shortfalls being covered by Medicare. And 10 governors, including Romney in MA requested welfare work pilot projects that were approved. The projects of course REQUIRE the back to work performance to be higher than the federal program. But of course the staff here and most of the informed commenters know this. And being quiet in the face of such lies is the same as lying.
Report Post »jujubeebee
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:23amMedicare patients are already being turned away on the current system by reimbursements being low. Adding the uninsured who are not buying insurance now is not going to cover everything….not the new people under obamacare, with the seniors, and certainly not all the amnesty people that Obama wants to eventually bring into free care. The fuzzy math, double counting is not going to work or convince Americans that it can be done and everyone will still have the same coverage and the same doctor. It is not going to happen. People are not as stupid as the explanation they are giving us to sell us. They may have fooled a few people in trying to get Obamacare passed but we are not buying the sales job that JROOK is talking about! ~A bunch of BS to sell it!
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:04pmRepublican are all deficit hawks – when a DEMOCRAT is in the WH.
Report Post »Ryan voted for every deficit and budget busting thing Bush could come up with.
BS61
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 2:45amSo tell me Indivualism – who will you vote for? I choose the guys who Don’t have socialist, marxist and communists friends! Wake up for goodness sake. We need to address getting the commie out of the WH, but our work doesn’t end there!
Report Post »phillyatheist
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:35ami guess lying to the press (and by proxy, the American people) doesn’t matter to you folks. he lied just yesterday, and now covers it by not remembering penning the 4 letters to the DOE? he lied about the same thing in 2010 on the radio when asked about this. he got busted, plain and simple. if this was a Democrat this would be the lead headline and you all would be calling for impeachment, or that he drop out of the race, or that he be put in front of a firing squad.
Report Post »doomytram
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:52amObozo will lies more before 9am then most people do all life. He would lie about crossing the street to buy an ice cream cone rather than just crossing the street to buy an ice cream cone. Obozo and Eric Ronald McDonald Folder have lied so much that Most Americans would vote for Liar Liarson and Fibber Fibberson for president over Barrack Obozoson and Joesph Biterson. But we don’t have to vote for Liarson… We (70% of Americans) can vote for Romney Ryan 2012 over Obozoson.
Report Post »phillyatheist
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:15amDOOM – do you have a hyperbole generator on your computer or are you just naturally so keen of the exaggeration? wow!
Report Post »Flagwaver
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 12:31pmBecause he didn’t remember a letter or two that he wrote he lied? How many letters for that sort of thing do you think he writes every month? He actually checked up on it and admitted that he was wrong. What about the President? When has he ever admitted he was wrong about something? What about any of the letters the President wrote while he was a Senator or before that? Right… they are all locked under Executive Privilege. Sounds transparent to me…
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:05pmDon‘t you love a Blazer’s typical response = attack Obama, attack the messenger (you),
Report Post »This is a site for 8th graders.
I come here to turn my brain off for a few minutes.
Wango
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:05amWHITEFLAGWAVER . . . Keep waving. Yeah, he just misplaced in his brain tank a “couple of” letters. How many does he write like this? Apparently, when it comes to writing letters asking for gubmint money he writes quite a few. Clearly he’s in favor of “spreading the wealth around.” Paul Ryan is a Marxist.
Report Post »Mike Benton
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:04amWho remembers everything?
Report Post »encinom
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:31amHe got caught being two faced and he lied and blamed some nameless staffer. He protested the stimulus and socialist but made sure his district got their socialist checks.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:25amRyan has passed into law two pieces of legislation in 13 years. And one of those was renaming a post office. Other than that, all he’s done is vote for spending increases under Bush and ask for money under Obama.
No wonder you’re spending all your time swooning over beefcake pics. Paul Ryan, our own little Putin.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:00amIf everyone voted with sound economic principles the bill wouldnt have passed. I have no issue with Paul Ryan’s vote here. I do however have a problem with him voting for TARP, the GM bailout, debt ceiling increases, Medicare Part D, the Patriot act, and the NDAA.
Report Post »doomytram
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:35amSo you have a big problem with Obozo clamoring on and on about the GM auto bailout created and saved millions and millions of jobs and that he saved GM from the brink of Bankruptcy. When the truth is Obozo push GM into Bankruptcy and shafting the stockholders. Now GM is going Bankrupt again with 26 billion Government Samolenes
Report Post »phillyatheist
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:44ami rarely, ok i’ll say NEVER, have seen a company near bankruptcy with a $21 share price. it is much more likely that you are talking out of your @ss.
Report Post »doomytram
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:04amThe stock price is down over 40% and falling. Extremely rarely or never have I ever seen a Government controlled agency do anything but fail. The point is this Philly. Obozo boast’s about Government Motors as a success and fired the CEO etc. When in fact, Obozo shafted the owners and kow towed to the unions and then the company went bankrupt anyway. While allowing the government to push the green, un globalist agenda. These failures by Obozo and his car czars are what is causing this current failures. It may seem like I’m talking out of my Azz when I say outlandish things about the ridiculous disastrous Obozo especially if you somehow are in his encampment of misfits and malcontents, but in fact I speak Sarcasm and truth….. may you find the Right way Philly.
Report Post »phillyatheist
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:14amthat’s fine – you have your opinion – i was pointing out that you were wrong to categorize GM as going bankrupt. you’re a little hate-filled for my taste, so i’ll be happy to leave it there. might i suggest you smoke a dubie and relax?
Report Post »pudssweetie
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:56amYou know Mary, it is one thing to point out the faults and wrongdoings of a Politician, but it is another when you cannot see the faults and wrongdoing of those who you support. ALL politicians make mistakes and none of them are perfect, but those who can and will stand up and admit that they were wrong, like Paul Ryan did, is the bigger person for doing so. I cannot say that about Obama, Biden, Pelosi or Reid as all of them have become Habitual Liars and are not sorry for about it.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:00amPUDDSQUEEZER . . . Did Ryan lie or not?
Report Post »b.mclane
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:54amDon’t you know Republicans have to be PERFECT. Not one precieved flaw of any kind including being rich. But Libs overlook or make excuses for Obama 24/7.Obama can enter an Ivy League school with poor grades and the Left is silent. Only way that is done is if he enters as a foreign student.Who paid for his University costs?Obama’s campaign somehow gets sealed court records of his opponents released just before the election . Now how does that happen? Yet again crickets.Biggest deal he ever made before becoming President was a crooked real estate loan with a felon.Yet the Libs voted him into office cause he is a “clean, articulate, black man” with maxed out credit cards. Its not Mitt Romney’s brother who called begging $1000 from a stranger for his sick kid , seems Obama doesn’t even assist his kin especially, if they are conservative.How long you guys going to carry the water for this manchurian candidate?
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:44amHold on a second. There needs to be a House investigation led by a Special Counsel in response to the obvious cronyism. We the People need to know why this nefarious deed done and who benefited.
Sarcasim off. Gonzo is right. This is part of the Democratic Party’s magic act. Don’t be distracted by the shiny things.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:29amSo Ryan made a mistake in the way a letter was handled,what’s the BFD? Barry is intentionally destroying capitalism,no comparison.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:42amHow is ensuring that the majority of citizens are privately (!) insured destroying capitalism? Last I checked, Canada, France, and the UK were capitalist countries, yet each has universal healthcare. I live in Switzerland, and we have a system that is similar to Obamacare: it is not single payer, and the responsibility is on each individual citizen/resident, but if you are too poor, the government will subsidize the purchase of a basic health plan. What is wrong with this?
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:07amBecause it isn’t private insurance,Barry took over 700 billion from medicare to fund his disaster of a health care law. Barry wants to do away with private health insurance companies totally and have single payer government health care which would by itself bankrupt this country. France is a capitalist country? You need to check the election results in France,they just elected a socialist president.
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:58am“Last I checked, Canada, France, and the UK were capitalist countries”
Not true. They are socialist at best, but more like kleptocratic neo-corporatism.
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:11pmRyan = personhood for fetuses amendment, Would actually amount to a total ban on ALL abortions.
Report Post »Who did this dunce think he was fooling.
Well the women in FL have finally woken up and gave the Tea Party candidate the boot.
An one Wisconsin voter put it “Ryan is a maniac posing as a reasonable man.”
Wango
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:21amPRONGPLAYER . . . So Hitler went on a genocide bender. Big deal. Nobody’s perfect. Unless it’s Michelle Obama suggesting that Americans could have a healthier diet, then she’s trying to destroy your individual freedom. I’m curious, I see how you dissemble in your own defense around here, but how do you deal with the private gnawing guilt of being so wrong, so disingenuous so often?
Ryan and Romney are pathological liars. And you will suffer in they are elected.
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:26amThis story is illustrating that Paul Ryan is ineffective. He can’t get anything done for his constituents.
The only thing you can say in Rep. Ryan’s favor is that as Vice President he will have little to do. His failures will be fewer.
Report Post »marvlus
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:41amYour reasoning is quite a stretch, but it is also expected, coming from you.
Report Post »b.mclane
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:42amTypical shoot -from-the- hip Liberal reply. Paul Ryan’s constituents, which includes a huge chunk of Democrats, continue to re-elect him with over 60% of the vote. So I guess those that know him and aren’t partisan idiots think he is effective.
Report Post »bandi9
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:43amyou are a hack
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:50amInsults are bullying.
I didn’t make the choice to print a story that was unflattering; theblaze did.
Complain to Mr.Beck if you don’t like it.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:54amWow Mary, stretching aren’t you? Yep, he made a mistake, then stood up like a man and took responsibility for it. I admire that in any man or woman, but on the other side it‘s all still Bush’s fault.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0A6xF0mmA8
marybethelizabeth
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:00amRJJinGadsden, it is not a stretch
The only other conclusion you can draw is he purposely wrote an ineffective letter because of his stimulus programopposition. That would make him an untrustworthy fool.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:10amMary, you sound like Lawrence O’Donnell. You are making up you conclusion. Now, get back to pulling the wool over 0bama’s lack of a birth certificate that is not fake, college transcripts, passports, and all his Chicago deals with Rezko.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:13amMary, furthermore, did you bother to read the letter itself. The link is above in the article. I really wonder how many of these submissions from him to the likes of Steven Chu were ever accepted. I would bet that would be none.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:17amMary, if you would, I’m just curious. What is it that you like about Obama and the Democrats? Is it the baby killing? Is it the supporting of pedophiles or racial genocide by Planned Parenthood? Is it a President that hangs out with domestic terrorists, or is supported by Muslim terrorist organizations?
Report Post »Is it the envy and proposed theft by the lazy upon those who produce? Is it the welfare state with all it’s trappings? Is it the full blown Communism or the attack on religion? Or is it a combination of the above that you love and support?
marybethelizabeth
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:24amTony Rezko was a George Bush Pioneer.
The issue here is Paul Ryan’s poor job performance, not President Obama’s successful run for United States President. Does Rep. Ryan think h
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:30amTeddrunk you have reached a wild conclusion if you think because I point out that Paul Ryan admits to doing his job poorly I’m an Obama supporter.
Just like all those other fantastical beliefs you listed, none of which are true.
Report Post »pudssweetie
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:26amMarbethelizabeth, apparently you do not pay attention very well. Many “Budget Cut” bills were passed in the House that were authored or co-authored by Paul Ryan, but were stopped dead in their tracks by Harry Reid and company. I do not care what side of the isle you are on, a bill is only a bill if it can pass both the House and the Senate and it seems that Harry Reid hate anything that the House passes when it comes to cutting spending.
Report Post »Flagwaver
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 12:35pmThe only reason Obama “successfully” became president is because every body and their dog voted for him. Literally. There were registered voters sharing the same address, a cemetery, who were present at that address when their ballots were mailed out (they found that the names corresponded with the bodies buried there). Also, the number of pets that were registered to vote.
Yeah, no voter fraud there. Only ACORN that was disbanded after how many people admited to voter fraud?
Please, go find a couple of cans on the side of the road and recycle them for a dime so you can buy a clue.
Report Post »Exiled
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:20amSo somebody has a problem with him sending a letter supporting a company that is applying for a grant? The tax man already took the money, I see no shame in trying to get some of it back.
Think of it this way, if a burglar steals $1,000 from you, and you saw him leave it on his front lawn, wouldn’t you go pick it up?
Report Post »American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:18amSo Paul Ryan did exactly the ONE thing 99% of anti-Ron Paul crowd criticizes him for. What now? It is the Representatives job to relay requests. Then the individual representative has the deciding factor of voting yes or no. Ron Paul and Paul Ryan chose to vote no, at least this time (Ryan).
Report Post »azcowboy1
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:14amI know this is slightly different but, I wonder if there will be any miss routed $$ in 2900 pages of bamacare…
Report Post »Comeandtakeit
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:14amNow let’s ask Joe Biden why his buddy got money from the gubmint for a car dealership out of the country in the Ukraine or someplace to create jobs- there, not here!
Report Post »dublinthewagons
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:03amCan you see a democrat admitting he was wrong?
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:04amAnd how should the letters have been handled?
Dumped in the round file?
That would be malfeasance.
Report Post »pudssweetie
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:14amMary, I have a very simple question to ask you. Do you remember every letter or e-mail you have written in the past 3,4 or 5 years?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:59am“the Obama stimulus did nothing to stimulate the economy, and now the President is asking to do it all over again.”
Report Post »That IS the issue, don’t let your attention be drawn away from it by shiny objects.
Steelhead
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:16amso was he against it before or after he voted for it
Report Post »artfromtex
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:41amSteelhead:
Ryan voted for TARP, not Obama’s stimulus package which is being discussed in this article.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:46amRead the article Steely. That’s not what it says.
Report Post »skimmer57
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:52amBut I’ll take some of it to help stimulate the economy.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:14amYes, shiny objects like Ryan begging for gubmint money and his voting record, right down to the adoration he has for his philosophical mentor, pro choice atheist Ayn Rand. Nothing relevant here, folks, move along. Look, it’s THE NUGE riding a buffalo! Ooh, oooh, Paul Ryan withOUT his shirt! Yummy! I just heard on Fox that he uses the P90 workout. Mmm, manly. So substantive!
One week in and he’s proven to be a philosophical and legislative liar. How long before Ryan sends the wife out to deal with the press like that candya$$ Romney does? Better release a few more beefcake shots.
Good luck, folks. Better start saving up for that secession rally in Texas.
Report Post »TIME_THE_AVENGER
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:58amSelective memories can be sumbitches SUMtimes.
Report Post »dublinthewagons
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:07amSelective memories like obama, Reid and pelosi have. They can’t remember which lie to select from.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:58amDUBLOON . . .But this article is about Paul Ryan. How do you feel about his lying and backtracking?
Report Post »